Johnson County sheriff says inmate committed suicide

New Century  Darrell Morrison, a 37-year-old inmate from Kansas City, Kan., died about 6:45 p.m. Monday in the New Century Adult Detention Center. A Johnson County Sheriff's deputy found Morrison hanging in his cell.

The Sheriff's Office said lifesaving measures were immediately undertaken by deputies and on-duty nursing staff. A Med-Act team responded and pronounced Morrison dead.

Morrison had been in custody since May 16, 2007, on charges of aggravated criminal sodomy with a child. He was found guilty in May 2009 and was scheduled for another court appearance today.

Sheriff's officials say this marks the ninth suicide within the Johnson County jail system since 1988.